Active minds, adaptive lives: Rethinking physical engagement in student mental health through the Neuro-Behavioural Physical Activity Loop (NBPAL)

Abstract

Background: Mental health challenges among students in higher education are rising globally, driven by increasing academic demands, sedentary lifestyles, and excessive digital engagement. These factors contribute significantly to the growing burden of anxiety, depression, stress, and burnout, thereby necessitating the development of preventive, accessible, and integrative strategies. Although physical engagement has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological intervention, its multidimensional influence on student mental health remains insufficiently conceptualized within a unified framework [1–4].

Objective: To systematically map existing evidence on the relationship between physical engagement and mental health among students in higher education and to propose a novel integrative framework—the Neuro-Behavioural Physical Activity Loop (NBPAL).

Methods: A scoping review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, were systematically searched for studies published between 2010 and 2025. Studies meeting predefined inclusion criteria were selected, and a total of 68 articles were included for analysis. Data were synthesized using a thematic approach to identify key patterns and mechanisms underlying the relationship between physical engagement and mental health outcomes.

Results: Physical engagement demonstrated consistent positive associations with reductions in anxiety, depression, and perceived stress, alongside improvements in cognitive performance, emotional regulation, and sleep quality. Three primary interconnected pathways were identified: (1) neurobiological modulation, including enhanced neuroplasticity and neurotransmitter regulation; (2) psychosocial enhancement, involving improved self-efficacy, social interaction, and emotional resilience; and (3) behavioural reinforcement, promoting habit formation and sustained engagement in health-promoting activities [5–8].

Conclusion: Physical engagement represents a multidimensional determinant of mental health among students. The proposed NBPAL framework integrates neurobiological, cognitive, emotional, and social processes into a dynamic, cyclical, and self-reinforcing model. This framework provides a novel conceptual foundation for designing preventive, scalable, and sustainable interventions aimed at enhancing holistic wellbeing within higher education settings.